circa 71-36 BCE
Æ 15 mm, 2,34 g
Laureate head of Zeus right.
Rev: TEP Bull butting left
unpublished(?)
Termessos was one of the very first ancient ruins I visited. Back then I wasn’t into ancient coins, but I was curious to see an ancient city, so I took a cab to the ruins and had them completely to myself.
I must admit it was difficult to make out what was what, but I do recall the ancient theater being gorgeous. It was also interesting seeing ruins that hadn’t been “put back”.
Termessos was one of the very few places Alexander the Great didn’t manage to conquer, which of course made me want to see it more. He surrounded the city but was unable to take it due to the difficult terrain.
Alexander knew his situation was untenable, so he never bothered assaulting the city but instead left and attacked Sagalassos.
After the death of Alexander, Antigonos Monophthalmos pursued Alketas to Termessos, where he had taken refugre. Aware that Antigonos had enough resources to cause them considerable harm, the elders of the city met and decided to hand over Alketas.
The younger members of the city were so enraged at this action that they left. Alketas, who preferred death over capture, killed himself. After Antigonos had mutilated the corpse for three days, he left it unburied. It was found by those who had left and buried with honors.